Mated by Fate

Chapter four: a stitch in time

"I just don't know what to do," Rey said to Lith as they sat in her backyard, sipping on iced tea. "My father won't let me go to college until I've chosen a mate and I just can't make up my mind."

"Well, have you thought about just telling him that you want to go to college and that you'll deal with the mate thing later?" Lith suggested.

"I've tried, but he's so stubborn. He says it's tradition and that it's for my own good," Rey replied, frustration creeping into her voice.

"That's ridiculous," Lith said, rolling her eyes. "You deserve to make your own choices and live your own life."

"I know," Rey said, sighing. "It's just so frustrating. And then there's the whole triangle situation. I just can't choose between Seth, Reyo and Evan."

"Well, have you thought about just telling them how you feel and seeing how they react?" Lith asked.

"I've thought about it, but I'm scared of hurting their feelings," Rey admitted.

"I get that," Lith said, nodding sympathetically. "But you deserve to be happy and if that means hurting someone's feelings, then so be it. You can't control how they feel or how they react, you can only control how you handle the situation."

Rey thought about Lith's words for a moment before nodding. "You're right. I need to take control of my own life and make the choices that are best for me."

"That's the spirit," Lith said, smiling.

Rey smiled back, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to take control of her own life and make the choices that were best for her.

"I'm going to talk to my father and the guys," Rey said, feeling a sense of determination wash over her.

"That's the spirit," Lith said, smiling.

With newfound determination, Rey set out to talk to her father first. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to make her case. When she approached him in the living room, he looked up from his newspaper with a raised eyebrow.

"What is it, Rey?" he asked.

"Dad, I need to talk to you about something important," Rey said, taking a deep breath.

"Go on," her father said, setting the newspaper down.

"I know you have a tradition in the family that I have to choose a mate before going to college, but I want to go to college and make my own choices. I know it's not going to be easy, but I'm ready to make the choices that are best for me," Rey said, her voice steady.

Her father looked at her for a moment before sighing. "Rey, I understand your desire to go to college, but I'm just trying to protect you. I want you to make the right choices and I believe that choosing a mate first will lead to a stable and happy life."

"I understand that, but I need to make my own choices and figure things out on my own," Rey said, standing her ground.

Her father looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Fine, you can go to college. But I want you to promise me that you'll be careful and make the right choices."

"I promise," Rey said, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

With her father's blessing, Rey set out to talk to Seth, Reyo and Evan. It was difficult and emotional, but she was able to express her feelings and let them know that she needed time to figure things out on her own. In the end, she felt a sense of clarity and peace knowing that she had taken control of her own life and made the choices that were best for her. She was ready to start a new chapter in her life and make the most of her college experience.

As the weeks passed, Rey settled into college life and made new friends. She was determined to make the most of her college experience and make the choices that were best for her. She took challenging classes and worked hard to achieve her goals.

One day, while hanging out with her friends, she met a young man named Ryan. He was kind, intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. They hit it off instantly and started spending more time together. As they got to know each other better, Rey realized that she had feelings for Ryan.

She felt guilty at first, thinking of Seth, Reyo and Evan, but she soon realized that it was okay to move on and find happiness with someone new. She decided to talk to Ryan about her feelings and see how he felt.

"Ryan, I need to talk to you about something," Rey said, as they sat on a bench in the park.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Ryan asked, looking at her with concern.

"I've been thinking a lot about us and I realized that I have feelings for you," Rey said, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I'm glad to hear that," Ryan said, a smile spreading across his face. "Because I have feelings for you too."

Rey felt a sense of happiness wash over her. She knew that she had made the right choice in moving on and finding happiness with someone new. She and Ryan started dating and she felt more content and fulfilled than she had ever felt before.

As she graduated from college, Rey realized that she had truly taken control of her life and made the choices that were best for her. She was proud of herself for standing up for what she wanted and not letting anyone else dictate her life. She knew that she had a bright future ahead of her and was excited to see what the world had in store for her.

Rey knew that her father was proud of her too, and they had a heart to heart talk where he apologized for pushing her to follow tradition and not allowing her to make her own choices. He was happy that she had found love and happiness, and wished her all the best for her future.